Traction wheel



Nov. 17, 1931. B. R. ENJAMIN 1,831,989

TRACTION WHEEL Filed July 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l m w O Q O N q N O C) VQ I E Q \J// N D ma Y o @Q o O l N lf3 `1 N Q2 )Bg I l5 ll A N 01 Nov. ,17, 1931. B. R, BENJAMIN 1,831,989

TRACTION WHEEL Filed July 22, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE :BERT R. BENJAMIN, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, l ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONAL 'HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TRACTION WHEEL i Application led July 22,

The present invention relates to the construction of the tread portion of traction wheels and to an improved traction lug structure and manner of mounting.

S The principal objectof the invention is to provide a tread which will be readily adaptable to different soil conditions while particularly adapted for obtaining efficient tra-ction on soft, sticky soil without objectionable packing of the soil on the lugs and tread.

Another object is to provide ajlug having securing means constructed to permit quick connection and disconnection and a certain range of angular adjustment of the lug in l5 a radial plane.

The invention is here illustrated as embodied in a wheel structure comprising a sin gle rim-plate having its width extending at right angles to the axis of the wheel with lugs of novel type secured to the sides of the plate, and the invention accordingly` resides in the organization and details of construction of such a wheel tread as hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a traction wheel showing a series of lugs in position on the rim plate or tread;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of a wheel with lugs in position on the rim plate;

Figure 3 is a detail view of the wheel tread in transverse section showinglugs equipped with auxiliary blades; Y

Figure 4 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of the auxiliary blades on the lug;

Figure 5 is a detail view of a lug;

Figure 6 is a similar view of a lug viewed at right angles to Figure 5;

Figure is a detail View of a fastening element or U-bolt for securing the lugs;

Figure 8 is a detail, sectional view illustrating the manner of connecting and. disl connecting a lug; and,

Figure 9 is a detail of the lug arrangement shown in Figure 4 as viewed from the side.

As illustrating a preferred form of the' invention there may be employed a traction wheel comprising a diskflikehub portion 10V of traction lugs 14 which are preferably ar- 1929. Serial No. 380,183.

havin a scalloped margin vfrom which there j exten radiating spokes 11, certain of which are alternately secured to opposite sides of the hub 1() and to oppositesides, of an annular rim plate 12, which is preferably oiset laterally from the plane of the hub and which has its width extended inv aplane at right angles to the axis of the wheel, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The rim plate 12 is formed with circumferentially spaced, cylindrical openings 13 located midway between its inner and outer edges for a purposeto bev described. The rim plate 12 is designed to carry a series ranged at an angle to the radius of the wheel and alternately secured in spaced oiiset rela lation to opposite sides of the rim plate in the manner shown `in Figure 1. Each lug 14 is preferably formed'with angularly re-` 70 lated webs, there being a wider web 15 and a narrower web 16, the latter of which is designed for connection to the rim plate with the web 15 extending outwardly therefrom. The lugs may conveniently be cut from angle iron or steel shapes. Each lug is of such length as to project beyondthe outer edge of the rim plate l12 with its inner end also extending inwardly of the rim to some eX- tent. The web 16, which Aengages one side of the rim plate, is formed with an intermediate, longitudinally extending slot 17 and with a notch 18 in its inner end. The slot 17 is so located as to intersect the outer edge of the rim plate 12 when the lug is in pos1tion thereon, and the notch 18 will then web 16 of the lug is also provided with a shoulder 194 which is preferably formed by striking out a portion of the'metal at the longitudinal edge of the rim opposite the slot 17. Thisshoulder is positioned to engage the outer edge of the plate 12 when the lug isrin position.

The lug is clamped to one side of the rim 95 12 by means of a clamping member or U-bolt 20, the transverse portion of which is provided with a central pintle 21 between the parallel arms 22 of the U-bolt. The pintle 21 engages an aperture 13 in the rim plate 100 above referred to, and the arms 22 respectively engage the slot 17 and notch 18 in the web 16 of the lug positioned on the opposite side of the plate. The arms 22 there carry fastening or clamping means preferably consisting of nuts 23 on the ends of the arms 22. There is thus provided a clamping member which embraces rim plate 12 and secures a lug thereto in a manner permitting angular adjustment of the lug in a radial plane and also permitting easy attachment and detachment of the lug therefrom. This facility of adjustment and mounting is due to the fact that the length of the U-bolt 2O is somewhat greater than the width of the rim 12, thereby permitting the lug to be rocked on the rim when the nuts 23 are loosened, with the shoulder 19 as a fulcrum, the U-bolt 2O at the same time pivoting on the pintle 21 while its ends have sliding movement in the slot 17 and notch 18. It is also possible to remove the lug from the rim without separating the U-bolt from the lug, by loosening the nuts 23 and slipping the lug outwardly to release ,the lowerarmof the U-bolt from the notch 18, as illustrated in Figure 8.

In a modified form of the lug shown in Figures 3, 4 and 9, there is provided an auxiliary wing or plate 25 which is fastened by means of bolts 26 to the web l5 of the lug, which is provided with spaced apertures 27 v for reception of the bolts.

The auxiliary plate`25 may be of the form shown at the left hand side of Figure 3, but preferably is constructed as shown at the right hand side of that figure. In this preferred construction, an auxiliary plate 25a is formed with a second pair 0f bolt apertures 28 which 4are on a line at right angles to the apertures in the edge of the plate, and positioned to permit the auxiliary plate 25a to be connected to the web 15 in either of two positions, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4L. In this construction of the plate 25, one edge thereof is rolled, as shown at 29, so that, when the plate is reversed as shown at the right hand side of Figure 4, the rolled edge will overhang the outer edge of the web 15 and provide a non-cutting tread surface for use on hard roads or sodded ground. As further provision for travel on hard roads, each web 16 maybe provided with a bolt opening 30 to register with similar openings in an overtire 31 (Figure 1) which may be formed of angle iron with one web extending between the lugs. Y Y

It will be seen from the foregoing description that a wheel tread is provided which vis free of closed pockets in which sticky soil is likely to be retained, while affording a tread surface having an over all width amply sufiicient to support a tractor on which the wheel is used in soft or muddy soil. The structure also provides an arrangement of lugs which may be adjusted and varied in structure and width to meet the various soil conditions incidental to use of farm tractors. The preferred embodimentl above described is capable of modification without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a traction wheel, the combination of a rim platepositioned at right angles to the axis o-f the wheel, a lug extending outwardly across the rim plate and having a flat portion engaging one side of the rim plate, said portion being formed with a slot intermediate its ends and 'with a notch in one end, a clamping member engaging the opposite side of the rim plate and having angular extensions respectively seated in the notch and slot, and fastening means on said ends.

2. In a traction wheel, the combination of a rim plate positioned at right angles to the kiron lug with a web engaging one side of the rim plate and projecting beyond both edges thereof, said web being formed with a slot intermediate its ends and with a notch in its inner end, a shoulder on the lug in engagement with the outer edge of the rim plate, a U-bolt embracing the rim plate and having its arms extending through said slot and notch respectively, and clamping means on the arms of the U-bolt.

4. In a traction wheel, the combination of a rim plate positioned at right angles to the axis of the wheel, a lug having a flat portion engaging one side of the rim plate and pro- 'ecting beyond both edges thereof, said lug eing formed with a longitudinal slot intermediate its ends and having a lateral projection engaging the outer edge of the rim plate, and clamping means pivotally engaged with the rim plate and passing through the slot in the lug, whereby the lug may be angularly adjusted about said lateral projection as a pivot. 5. In a traction wheel, the combination of a rim plate positioned at right angles to the axis of the wheel and formed with circumferentially spaced apertures, radially disposedm lugs having flat portions engaging one sidey of the rim plate over the apertures and projecting beyond both edges of the rim plate, said flat portions veach being formed with a slot intermediate its ends intersecting the j outer edge of the rim plate and with a notch` BERT R. BENJAMIN. 

